<i>The spear may be able to be stopped for a moment, long enough to get a single hit on the being but just as quickly as it stopped a sudden burst of force would cause it to push forward. The armored being would also be sent flying backwards until they made contact with the ground once more. The strike from the stand would leave holes in its left side but another strange phenomenon began to occur. The metal that made up the armor seemed to begin moving around where it had been torn up. It would begin to stretch and contort to cover the holes up until they were closed completely.</i> &quot;I...forward...is the only way I know...Even without my contract...&quot;

<i>The spear may have been stopped once again by the metallic form but it would still not stop. It would start up once more, grinding against the metal as much as it needed to with an unnatural force behind it. It it was worn down it would simply begin shifting itself back into shape just as the armor had as well. The armored man however, would not be reached by Akia's stand. His body would sink into the ground, almost seeming to grow transparent in nature until the figure simply became one with the dirt.</i>

&quot;Heh, I wasn't judging other who kill. I think you might imagine why it might be unsettling for me to kill as anything but a last resort.&quot; <i>Koji would return the handshake as well. He wasn't exactly picky about who he got as long as they weren't pure evil at heart. He couldn't afford to refuse most help anymore.</i> &quot;I suppose I should properly introduce myself. Koji Reiko, mercenary and professional exorcist. My stand's name is [ Restless Wicked ]. As you can imagine it grants me the power to see and speak with the dead. I can even materialize the dead into the world of the living with a little negotiation.&quot;

<i>The cube from before would quickly make a strange noise before seeming to come to life itself. A thick metal sheet would swing from it's side in an attempt to block the bullets but one would still get by, leaving a cut on the side of the man's face. He'd quickly wipe on hand over his face and look at the blood. A twisted rage would be seen forming in his eyes. A rage that perhaps was unlike anything Akia had seen yet. His eyes were beyond that of a killer but of someone who wouldn't even hesitate to throw someone's life away.</i> Mysterious Man: &quot;How dare you, you little shit! I was gonna let you live but forget that! I don't care if you know where the Mad World is or not! I'll kill you until there's nothing left of you but a piss stain! [ Tiny Little Robots ]! Tear them apart! We have no use for some organic piece of trash!&quot; <i>The speed at which the man turned to rage almost seemed astonishing as the tree roots from before seemed to move at a violent pace, whipping back and forth. A tree would burst forth from out of the ground behind Akia. It now seemed to have several metal root-like legs to allow it to move around and several arms with what appeared to be chainsaws on the end. It would suddenly charge at the girl from behind, swinging it's arms at her with no regards for its surroundings. Meanwhile the metal cube seemed to grow a set of robotic stick like legs of its own, elevating it off the ground. Several gun mounted turrets seemed to already be installed on the front of it firing a volley of shots that seemed more aimed to take her life than anything else. The man didn't even seem to acknowledge her last statement given his rage.</i>

<i>The man had been laughing up until this point. He thought he had won but he grew careless as the cube he was on rose higher and higher, simulating his feeling of being on top. He at first watched in confusion as she was thrown into the air. He'd only have a moment to react as he tried to order the robot he was standing on to descend but it was too late as the grappling hook pierced through his arm. He'd look stunned for moment as he was pulled into the air.</i> Mysterious Man: &quot;W-what? But I was winning?!? This isn't according to plan!&quot; <i>The flurry of blows would hit him like a truck as his body was contorted and twisted in pain finally ending with him being shot towards the ground. The tree robot would begin to shift right as he hit the ground reverting back into a tree as it was before and the strange metal cube oddly changed into what appeared to be a small broken cellphone. The man would lie on the pavement having made a small crater in it. For a moment he seemed unconscious before his stand seemed to activate once more. However, it seemed that his stands number was greatly reduced. They'd quickly section of the pavement he was on before propellers seemed to form in the four corners around him.</i> Mystery Man: &quot;I'll...l-leave for today...but I won't forget...this...&quot; <i>Akia would find the man's arm still stuck to her grappling hook, ripped off as he began to fly away in his makeshift helicopter.</i>

<i>The man would consider what she said for a moment. He didn't believe she was lying. The Devil's Palm...it was the reason for all of this after all.</i> &quot;I see... The Devil's Palm is actually a section of land that even to this day is full of what is known as the stand virus. A simple way of putting it is that it's not the desert that kills you but the virus that's wide spread throughout that area. One more question before I decide whether to trust you or not, have you heard of a stand simply know as [ The Mad World ]?&quot;

<i>With a wave of his hand the shadows seemed to fade but the cold fog remained. It seemed he was trying to show the he wasn't looking for a fight either.</i> Koji: &quot;Seems you know what a stand is. That saves time explaining...now, how exactly did you awaken to such a power? And furthermore, how much do you actually know about this power that we call stands?&quot;

<i>The armored figure wouldn't even flinch at the sight of the flames as they approached. Instead he'd simply take up his spear once more and with what swift motion throw the weapon straight forward. The spear would seem to lock onto it's target, this time aiming for Akia's leg. If the spear past through the flames then it would ignite with its own ghostly blue flames. Burning with an oddly cold flames and launching forward with a remarkable amount of force. The armored figure however would let the flames hit them. They're body would seem to begin to start glowing red from the heat and becoming softer in places. The metal itself would continuously try to preserve its form but it was clear that doing so was a constant struggle for it.</i><div class='edited'>(edited by Koji-Reiko)</div>

<i>The tree-shaped robot might halt for a moment but otherwise it seemed unaffected by the attempt to short-circuit it. Now, as well, there's a puddle of water trailing around it as it moves carrying it's electric current with it. It'd rush at Akia now that it was in range to reach her. Attempting to get her close enough to it's Tesla Rods to deliver a staggering shock. As for the wire snakes they were indeed made in haste with only simply commands in mind. Their head would be severed causing them to lifelessly fall to the ground. The tiny stands would seem to struggle to climb out of the cables, allowing them to be seen for a moment. Their appearance was metallic in nature with beady yellow eyes and mouths that constantly showed disappointment. Their hands as well seemed to be made of small wire cutter like appendages with small nozzles that seemed to spray a fluid of some kind. The turrets on the metal cube the man was riding seemed to begin heating up once more. Any moment now they'd be ready to fire as the man frowned.</i> Mysterious Man: &quot;You're not making this easier for yourself. Regardless of what you do or how many robots you destroy my Tiny Little Robots will simply build more and more. Look around you, we're surrounded by fresh material for me to use with all this junk lying around. How long do you think you can really last with such a simple stand?&quot;

<i>The man would look at her with both a pleasant and confused surprise. It was clear he wasn't used to things not working out. He'd make sure his short black hair was neat before speaking.</i> Mysterious Man: &quot;Huh, what'd that about the dead and a meeting? Is that what you're out here for? Doesn't matter, just means I have more interrogations to do after I'm done with you. Heh, I knew following a random stand user would be worthwhile. The boss will definitely decide that I'm worthy of being his number 2 now!&quot; <i>Several small metallic entities would seem to appear from thin air around the man's feat before darting off and out of site.</i> Mysterious Man: &quot;[ Tiny Little Robots ]!&quot; <i>Some of the trees in the area would suddenly seem to change to a more metallic material before a set of odd roots would dig their way out of the ground and attempt to ensnare Akia before she had the chance to react. They had a mechanical strength to them not dissimilar to Akia's own cybernetics.</i> Mysterious Man: &quot;Struggling will just mean I have to hurt you more. Do comply because I hate when things don't go according to plan.&quot;